Cigar-shield.



JOHNVHIGHAM, or LOS enemies, CALIFORNIA. Y

CIGAR-SHIELD.

Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Dec. 18, 191 '7.

Application filed October 12, 1915. Serial No. 55,575.

Y '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN HIGHAM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cigar-Shields, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to shields for cigars and cigarettes, and more particularly to a shield for encompassing the lighted end of a cigar.

It is the object of my invention to provide a shield of reticulated material which may be placed over the lighted end of a cigar to prevent the scattering of ashes as the cigar burns.

It is another object to provide spring means for adjustably holding the shield upon the cigar.

It is another object to. form the device of a single piece of reticulated'material in such a manner that the shield will. adapt itself to large or small cigars.

It is a further object to provide a cigar shield which may be easily applied to the cigar and formed of durable material so that it may be taken off of the discarded cigar and reused.

It is also an object to so construct the shield that it will afford a draft to the burning cigar and at the same time not allow the ashes to scatter or be blown into the face of the smoker.

My invention is more particularly illus trated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective showing the shield as applied to a cigar of ordinary size.

Fig. 2 is a view in perspective of the shield applied to the tip of a cigarette or a cigar of the Panatella size.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the shield showing it as mounted over the burning end of the cigar.

Fig. 4 is a view in perspective of the shield.

Fig. 5 is a view in cross-section on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the split ring spring.

More specifically, 10 illustrates a cigar upon which the shield 11 is adapted to be mounted. The body portion of the shield 11 is preferably formed of a reticulated material such as metal gauze and is .here shown in the form ofa tapered cylinder, one end of whichisopen to receive the outer end of a cigar and the opposite end of which is closed by a wall 12. The wall 12 may be formed integral with the side walls of the shield or may be attached thereto in any desired manner and may be formed of reticulated material, as shown, or may consist of an 'imperforateddiski In order to adapt the device for use on cigars of various diameters the shield is formed with a longitudinal division on one side thereof with the marginal edges at thepoint of division overlapping each other so as to permit of contraction or enlargement of the cylinder. This longitudinal division is preferably formed on one side only of the cylinder, as illustrated in Figs. ,4 and 5. As a means for retaining the form of the cylinder shown in Figs. 1-5 inclusive in anormal contracted position, the cylinder is fitted with a circumferentially extending divided spring member 13 which is here shown as mounted on the outer end of the cylinder and as forming a rim therefor.

As a further means for gripping the cigar and also for adapting the use of the device on cigars of different diameters a plurality of longitudinally extending spring members 14 are formed on the spring member 13 and are here shown as extending inwardly from the outer end of the cylinder, as illustrated in Fig. 4. These spring mem bers 14: have their outer ends rigid with the wall of the cylinder and their inner ends free and spaced from the inner face of the cylinder wall in such manner as to form clamps which are adapted to frictionally engage and grip the body of a cigar introduced therebetween and at the same time hold the walls of the cylinder in spaced relation to the cigar, it bein desirable that the open end of the shield be spaced from the cigar to form a vent at this point.

In the operation of the invention the outer end of the cigar is introduced into the open end of the cylinder either before or after lighting. The walls of the cylinder, being of a resilient character, will engage and clamp the cigar so as to retain the shield in position thereon with suflicient grip to prevent easy displacement. If the cigar has not been ignited before introduction into the shield, a flame applied to the shield on suction being induced therein through the cigar will draw the flame through the gauze and light the cigar. The cigar may then be smoked in the usual manner, the air necessary for combustion being drawn through the reticulated walls of the shield and also through the space surrounding the cigar at the open end of the shield. The mesh or perforations in the shield while permitting the passage of air therethrough, are of such fineness as to prevent the ash of the cigar from sifting therethrough.

The use of this device permits the smoking of cigars, cigarettes and the like in winds'and drafts without scattering of the am or causing uneven burning of the cigar. The device further provides a receptacle for the cigar ash which, when the cigar is consumed, may be emptied, and also provides adapted to cigars of various diameters and may also be readily adjusted from time to time on a cigar as it is being consumed.

It is manifest that the device may be made in various shapes and of various materials, the essential feature being to so construct it that a single device may be employed on various sized cigars, permit of a free access of air to the burning end of the cigar, and prevent scattering of the cigar ash.

If desired, the spring member 13 may be formed integral with the cylinder by flanging or overlapping the outer edge thereof or it may consist of a separable member such as a ring as indicated in Fig. 6, which ring may he slipped on the cylinder and advanced thereon to contract it into engagement with the cigar.

The spacing and clamping members 14, in extending inwardly at the open end of the cylindrical shield, facilitate their engagement with the cigar-on the latter being introduced into the shield, this arrangement also serving to obviate objectionable proj'ections on the shield.

I claim:

A cigar shield, comprising a reticulated tubular body having one end closed and the other end open, said body being divided throughout its length on one side with the edges of the division overlapping, a circumferentially extending spring member sccured to the edge of the tubular body at its open end, said spring member being split at the division of the body and yieldably opposing its enlargement, and a series of spring tongues mounted on'the spring member extending inwardly into the interior of the tubular body and adapted to engage the outer end of a cigar.

In testimony whereofI have signed name to this specification.

JOHN HIGHAM.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner p1 Interm- Washington, D. C." 

